Fort Smith Neighborhood Park Plan Moves Forward

Despite concern over how it could affect already-planned projects, Fort Smith’s parks panel has agreed to recommend making a new neighborhood park a priority.

Despite concern over how it could affect already-planned projects, Fort Smith’s parks panel has agreed to recommend making a new neighborhood park a priority.

According to Parks Director Mike Alsup, a resident wants to donate 2.5 acres for a neighborhood park near Fianna Hills at the corner of Fianna Way and Arkansas 253.

"One of our goals in the Comprehensive Plan is to have a neighborhood park within a half mile of all residents," Alsup told the Fort Smith Parks Commission on Wednesday. "It’s in an area we need a neighborhood park, and it’s a great piece of property."

The donor’s stipulation is that the city begin development of the park within two years. Alsup noted that budgets for neighborhood parks are typically around $150,000.

"The neighborhood POA has indicted they will work with us to try to raise some money to develop it also," Alsup said. The POA is the local property owners association.

Some commissioners expressed concern over how to alter a long-range plan already filled with parks projects.

"Which ones would we have to push back to do this instead?" Commissioner Bryan Merry asked.

Alsup agreed the city’s five-year plan "is packed."

"We don’t have any wiggle room in our plans so something would have to be moved back," he said.

Parks Commissioner Casey Millspaugh noted he was "concerned about how we’ll adjust the plan later."

"We might find that there is something else we want to commit that type of money to," he said. "If we accept this park now, we won’t have that flexibility later. I’m all for there being a park there. I’m just concerned we’re going to lock ourselves into something."

New neighborhood parks planned during the next five years include Texas Road Park, Fondren Park, Briarcliff Avenue Park, Williamson Place Park and Middleton Farms Park. Texas Road and Fondren are located in the same general area as the Fianna site, according to city officials.

"Development of a neighborhood park in those areas, that’s where the funding is already designated," Deputy City Administrator Jeff Dingman said. "You’re still accommodating folks in that part of the city."

The commission ultimately approved a recommendation to accept the donation in pursuit of the new park. The recommendation will be presented to the Fort Smith Board of Directors at a later date for final approval.